Joseph c



"UNITE-D, s a

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH c. FOWLER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To s NeLAIn TALIAFERRO, or SAME PLACE.

QAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,292, dated January 10, 1 882. i

' Application filed Novemberflfiflfil. (No model.) l

To all whom it may concern:

in GarGouplings, of whichtlie following is a specification. V y

The object of this invention is to provide a car-coupling, which in the event of a car running ofl' the track and tipping over, will automatically uncouple; also,.to provide a coupling-pin which will be locked down by reason -of the strain thereon when the cars are in inotion also, to provide cert in improvements in thedetails of construction of the coupling, as hereinafter set forth, and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end view of the draw-head and couplingpin. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on a vertical plane to one side'of thecoupling-pin. Fig. 3'is a like section, the

parts being viewed from an opposite direction. Fig. 4 showsa modified form of coupling-pin.

A indicates the draw-head, and B the coupling-pin, which isadapted and arranged to engage with the usual coupling-link. The draw-.

head has slots formed through its topand bottom portions, and the vertically-movable coupling-pin is arranged to work through the said slots. The drawhead is also provided upon its top side with a casing, a, through which the upper portion of the coupling-pin passes, whereby the pin is steadied and guided in its movements. The coupling-pin is provided with a horizontal cross-pin, O, the ends of which are arranged to work within the slots D, that are formed in the inner vertical sides of the draw-head. The coupling-pin has a. shoulder or ofiset, E, formed in its rear edge, which divides said edge into the two straight portions 0 6. Along the upper portion of its front edge the coupling-pin is made straight, and at the lower portion thereof it is curved so as toform a point at the lower end of the pin. This said coupling-pin isnormally held down, so that its cross-pin will be at the lower ends of the slots, by means of a spring, F, securedtupon the draw-head and arranged to bear upon a stud or projection on the rear edge of the coupling-pin.

nection with the coupling-pin, and it is en-V gaged thereby as follows: The link strikes and presses against the front curved edge-of the coupling-pin,thereby forcing the pin 0 out of thej notches d and raising the coupling-pin against the spring-pressure until the couplinglink passes under the point of the pin, when the latter will be promptly thrownor forced" will rest" upon the link,"and thereby hold the.

link in a horizontal position and. prevent it fro nsag'ging on either side. By this means the link will be maintained in proper position for engaging-the coupling-pin of another car.

When the link is held by the pin, as, just related, the ends of the horizontal cross-pin will be at the lower ends of the-slotsrD, and when the tlfain is in motion the lateral strain of the link upon the coupling-pin will draw the ends of the horizontal cross-pin into notches d,- formed at the lower ends of the inclined slots, thus locking down the cou -iling-pin and preventing itsbeing accidentally raised. But, should a car run-oifthe track and tipover,the link will turn about its axisthat is to say, a central line taken longitudinally through the greatest length of the link-whereby one side of the link will bear upon the inner surface of the bottom of the wall of the draw-head, while the opposite side of the link will rise, and, acting against the horizontal cross-pin, raise the coupling-pin sufficiently toadmit ofthe link slippin g from under the same. This then will uricouple the cars, and thereby tend to avoid any accident to the cars in rear of the one which has jumped the track. When the coupling-pin is raised to the farthest extent the shoulder or offset on the rear edge of the coupling-pin will abut against'the top wall of the recess on the draw-head, thus relieving the cross-pin of head, and the cross-pin will be passed through a hole in the side of the draw-head and driven through the coupling-pin.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the coupling-pin is formed with a curved front edge, against which thelink strikes. The body of this pin willbearranged horizontally within a slot formed through the upper part of the draw-head,'the rear end of the coupling-pin or latch being slotted to receive a pivot that will be secured at the sides of the draw-head.

This form of pin or latch will have a notch, i, which will receive the link when the cars are coupled, and will have the horizontal crossbar, as in the first-described coupling-pin. It will be evident that the operation of the latch willbe substantially the same as the verticallysliding coupling-pin, and that aspring can be applied to hold the same down.

I am aware that a coupling-block has been formed at its lower end with a beveled projection to enter a coupling-link, the end of the eled projection serving to rest on the link to hold it in a level position. Such construction is not my invention,as I provide the couplingpin with a transverse. pin the ends of which rest in vertical grooves in, the side walls ofthe draw-head, which is the essential feature of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcutis'' 1: In a car-coupling, the "ertieally-movable coupling-pin, provided with a horizontal crossbar adapted to rest upon the link when the latter is engaged bythe eonpling-pin, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the draw-head having grooves in its inner vertical walls, of the coupling-pin provided with a horizontalcrossbar having its ends received into the said grooves,substantially as and for the purpose described. I

3. Theeombiuation, with the draw-head having grooves in its inner side walls, with notches at the lower ends of said grooves, of the coupling-pin provided with a horizontal cross-bar having its ends received inthe said grooves, whereby lateral strain on the coupling-pin in a forward direction when the pin is -down will draw the ends of the cross-bar into said notches and thereby lock down the coupling-pin, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the draw-head having grooves in its inner side walls, ofthecoupling-pin provided with a cross-bar having its ends received into said grooves, and the spring arranged to depress the coupling-pin, substantially as described. coupling-block on opposite sides of the bev- 5. The combination, with the draw-head, of

the coupling-pin' provided with a cross-bar having its ends received in grooves in the drawhead, said coupling-pin being formed with the shoulder or oti'set E on its rear edge, whereby the shock and strain upon the cross-bar when the coupling pin is raised will be partly relieved, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my 'hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- JOSEPH (J. FOWLER,

Witnesses:

S. E. J ONES, SAM STERNE. 

